[center][h2]Aurix[/h2][/center]

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As the group gathered by the wench, gear ready and morale high for the adventure ahead, there was a clear lack of a certain presence. Aurix was with the group, however, she would soon appear as the doors of the tavern came open and there stood the lizardfolk, next to her standing the brown-coated horse of Achthend. The two stood there for a moment before the lizardfolk took a step forward, guiding the draft horse through the interior of the building. In a moment of silence, the crowd stared at the horse before there was a murmur of happiness swept through the onlookers, very much pleased to see the new take on trying to get through the maze.

Some reached out to let the horse, whose tail merely flicked back and forth as Aurix pulled it along towards the winch down to the maze. Aurix cared not for what the softskins did to her horse, so long as it did not impair her ability to lead it through the maze with the extra supplies that it was carrying on it. As she reached the step to the winch, Achthend stopped and refused the lizardfolk’s motions to try and get it aboard the way down. She knew exactly what it wanted and she could understand why.

Achthend was far smarter, or at least Aurix believed with his sense of preservation matching that of the lizardfolk, than any horse she had previously come across. This horse once killed a drow by crushing its skull when Aurix has led it into the underdark during the first campaign the group had together, proving its usefulness as being more than mere food. She had grown as attached as a lizardfolk could get to a creature, refusing to relieve the horse of service until it has breathed its last breath and provided Aurix with sustenance after death and his bones had been made into a dagger and shield. Such was the circle of resourcefulness that Achthend offered, being more than just a traveling snack for the ever neutral reptilian.

“Smart,” Aurix commented as she reached into one of the packs to grab a carrot, holding it in front of the horse’s face. He leaned forward to try and grab the carrot only for Aurix to pull back, forcing the horse to move onto the winch to retrieve its bribe. 

When the horse settled upon the winch, the crowd erupted into cheers as it seemed Achthend had become a hit without caring to and without showmanship. Aurix blankly looked over to Durnan, a low grumble sounded from her as she sized up the rather large man before looking back to the horse, gently caressing his snout. She would not bother putting on a show for softskins, there was no reason to as she was not in danger or threatened by any of the creatures in the raven. “Useless,” she muttered under her breath, as she stared into her horse’s eyes.